Open Tech Calendar

This month we have two great presentations: one on what is happening with Open Data in Manchester, and the other on a Civtech-winning programme of Citizen Data Science.

Come along to hear more, network with other local data practitioners and have some fun.

18:30 pizza and beer.

7pm - Open Data Manchester - Jamie Whyte

7.45pm. "Upgrading Democracy – Public Participation in Government" - Matthew Davis of Wittin.

Details below

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Open Data Manchester is an organisation dedicated to promoting a fairer society through responsible and intelligent data practice in Greater Manchester, and beyond. Jamie will talk us through some of Open Data Manchester’s projects, running the gamut of civic hacking - transport, air quality, elections, internet of things, and more.

Jamie Whyte is one of the directors of Open Data Manchester. Jamie has extensive experience working with data, having worked in the public sector for over 15 years. Jamie designed, established and led Trafford Council’s Innovation and Intelligence Lab, using and capturing a huge range of data to help people make better decisions. Jamie now advises all sorts of organisations on how to use data effectively, from local government to academia, central government to the voluntary / community sector, and private enterprises to the general public.”

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Upgrading Democracy – Public Participation in Government.

Local governments have throughout their existence created the processes and policies that govern all of our lives. The problem with this is twofold. The first is that the people in the last few centuries working as civil servants have rarely been a diverse group of individuals in any locale the world over. Second the technology implemented over the last two to three decades has captured the processes and policies in a less than changeable state, almost like locked-in syndrome for local government change.

What if the technology we needed was not digital, but analogue? Not something that locked up old processes and policies so they couldn’t be changed. Not something that hindered what the citizenry wanted government to be working on. Not something that limited the introduction of ideas to only the limited diversity of those who are working for government.

This talk will cover the analogue technology of releasing control over processes and policies so that a diverse and engaged group of citizen scientists can support local government with ideas, defining problems and ultimately with solving challenges. We will look specifically at the changes being undertaken throughout several local authorities in Scotland and contrast against traditional community engagement.

Matthew Davis was born into the wilds of mid-western America, Matthew has lived his life creating. The kind of kid that bought a tarp, some PVC pipe and a skate board; fashioned himself a windsurfing set-up and then saw an opportunity in a local tornado. "Sorry Mom."

Undergraduate in Art and Design, Doctorate in Scottish History, Career in Databases: Matthew came late to the realisation that if he's going to use his diverse skill set he'd have to employ himself. From this Wittin (www.wittin.co.uk) was founded looking at and hopefully solving the largest data problems.

An experienced, disciplined, and highly-motivated data geek who has worked on a wide range of projects. Furthermore he is a fluent communicator with strong investigation, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Educated to PhD level with a verifiable track record in fields such as project management, process mapping and information systems with particular emphasis on data.

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Thanks to MBN Solutions, Data Lab Scotland and Scotland IS for sponsoring this event.